Electrical apparatus



W. C. DEE

ELCTRICAL `APPRA'IUS Filed sept.y 19. 1918 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. DEE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE ENGELN ELECTRIC COM- PANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Application led September 19, 1918. Serial No. 254,780.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. DEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Apparatus, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to electrical apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus designed for the `use of X-rays in dental and other work.

The object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for taking Xray photographs of teeth, and which apparatus enables the X-ray tube to be readily swung into the most convenient position for application of the rays to any desired tooth and then traversed over an orbit so as to bring within working range each and every tooth in the jaw, or other part to be exposed. Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this kind carrying a support for the X-ray tube provided with a number of friction joints so that the tube `can be brought to and held frictionally in any desired position, and which also enables the line or direction of application of the rays to be adjusted to almost any angle or direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this kind in which the patient is protected from the possibility of injury by stray discharges of high tension current by so arranging the apparatus that a grounded portion thereof is always interposed between the high tension lead wire and the patient, whateverbe the position to which the tube is adjusted. A further object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve the apparatus in a manner to reduce its cost and thoroughly insulate and protect all of the electrical circuit wires.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. l is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, through the upper portion of the post or standard and'` a part of the hinged arm; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken out and in section, of the outer end of the hinged arm; F ig. 4 is a detail cross section on the `line 4:44, Fig. i

3; Fig. 5 is a detail cross section on the line 5 5, Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, illustrating the joints between the X-ray tube and the goose neck arm; and Fig. 7 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 77, Fig. 2, illustrating a hinge joint.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a suitable base or support l which, with its contents, is heavyl enough` to stabilize the entire apparatus and permit the X-ray tube to beadjusted to any position Without liability of tipping over the apparatus. This base=usually contains the necessary transformers and other devices for producing and controlling the X-rays, and whichneed not be described in detail as they form no part of the presentV invention. 2 represents a tubular column rising from the base l and rigidlyattached thereto. Within the upper end of this column is located the tubular shank 3 of one member 5 of a hinge, said shank having an annular shoulder 4er-esting upon the upper edge of the column and thereby serving to support the hinge on the same but nevertheless permitting the hinge and the shank 3 to be turned around in the column, whereby the entire X-ray tube supporting arm can be swungaround a vertical axis through the center of the column 2. This arrangement enables the apparatus to be ypractically permanently located at one side of the dentists chair and the X-ray tube normally kept back out of the way but ready to be swung out into operative position whenever desired. The base 1 can, however, be provided with rollers or casters to enable it to bemoved over the floor, if desired.

. The hinge member 5 before referred to co operates with a hinge member -6 carrying two hollow bosses 7 and 8 whose purpose will appear. Member 5 is bifurcated to form two parallel disc members 9, while member 6 is also bifurcated toform discs l0 which arespaced apart and which .it between the discs 9. The two sets of discs are pivotally connected by alined bolts 1l, which form a hinge axis, and one of which is provided with a handle l1a for tightening it against a 'friction washer 12. Byscrewing up the bolt friction may be produced in the joint so that the hinge members will remain in practically any position to which they are adjusted. To insulate the metal parts and end is connected bya chain, cable or link 20 to the member G. The abutment 18 extends outwardly beyond the tube 16 so that it can be conveniently adjusted by the fingers. Spring 17 exerts a constant tendency to pull down the rod 19 :and thereby elevate the X- ray 'earring arm, so that it servesfas a counter-weight for said arm and enables it to be more veasily adjusted. y

The hinge member 6 serves as a support for the main X-ray tube carrying arm, which is in the form of a metal tube or vpipe 22 held rigidly vat one end in the boss 7 and which is curved outwardly and downwardly, as shown in 1, so that its outer end depends practically vertically. By swing` ing the ar-m 22 in its vertical plane jof moveinent about the axis of hinge 5, I6, the 'outer end of arm 22 maybe more or less inclined tothe vertical, as desired. Tube 22 serves as the casing for the high tension conductor and also supports, 'such 'as by the bridges 23,

a smaller metal tube 24 which 'incloses another setof lead wires to be described. This latter tube is inserted in the hollow boss 8 ybefore referred to and terminates at its opposite end short of the end of the arm 22.

At its outer end the tubular arm 22 has .rigidly secured thereto a thimble 25 into the lower 'end of which is rthreaded a hollow tubular member 26 formed of suitable insulating material. This -thimble also serves asa bearing support for a hinge joint carrying an 'auxiliary goose neck arm. As illustrated in Fig. 4, said joint comprises two members 27 and 28, of which member 27 has a sleeve bearing portion 29 'embracing the bearing thimble '25 and held thereon by a nut 30. Sleeve 29 is splitat 3f1`andthe two ears thereof ymay be clamped together by the-thumb screws 32 so as to adjust the friction in thefbearingfto an amountsuii'icient to hold the parts in any desired adjusted Aposition. Member 27 is also pierced to 'receive a thumb screw 33 threaded into a Jfriction disc 34 having dowel pins 35 working in recesses Iin member 27. This member `34 has an annular flange' which fits in a'circular recess inthe member 28, so that the screw 33 not only'serves as a hingeipin for the joint but also enables the friction in the joint to be readily adjusted. Member 28 is also provided with a .cylindrical portion 37 to which is rigidly secured one end of the tubularbalancing device, such as the spring form used for the main arm, may be employed to Vcoui'iterbalance the auxiliary arm on the main arm. The opposite end of the tubular goose neck arm 258, as illustrated in Fig. 6, is connected to a hinge -j'oint member 40 connected to a Vmember 41. The joint between members 40 and 41 need not be described in detail as it issimi'l-ar in all respects to the joint shown in Fig. I4, it being suiicient to'statet'hat member 4() is of the same form as member 28 and member 41 corresponds to the. member 27.

Member 41 is enlarged to form :a disc 42 fitting a circular socket in member 43 and held therein by a bolt. 44, which serves as a hinge axis. Membery 43 surrounds ythe'disc 42 and is 'split at one side, as at 45, the two ears being connected by a screw 46 by means of which the friction in the joint can be varied.

Y Member 48 has connected thereto .a plate 47 having an opening through which the cylindrical shank 48 of one member of the X-ray tube or shield is inserted, said plate also having openings :to receive several curved rods or wires 49, say three, connected at their opposite ends vto a ring 50 surrounding another portion of the X-ray tube 'or shield.v The rods 49 also carry the thumb nuts 5l. As will appear from Fig. 1, these thumb nuts can be removed to release the wires so that the X-'ray tube and 4shield can be inserted or removed from the frame as desired.

From theconstruction described it will be 'observed that the X-ray tube can vbe adj listed to aninfinite variety of positions, due to the fact that said tube is 'mounted to have turning adjustment around six separate axes inclined at various angles to each other. The turning movement of arm 22 around the vertical aXis of column 2 enables the lamp to vbe brought 4generally into range of the patient, who is seated so that his head lies practically under the outer 'depending end of 4arm 22.. By adjusting the arm upwardly or downwardly in a vertical plane, around the aXisof the hinge 5, 6, the 'axis of the `bearing at the outer end of arm 22 may be inclined to the vertical or to a position substantially perpendicular to the slant ofthe jaw. Vhen the X-ray tube .is then adjustedto the proper position on the auxiliary arm, it ycan fbe swung around A,through an orbit in the plane of the jaw so as to come successively into operative relation with the several teeth in the j'aw,'and with the angle of application of the rays inclined at the `proper angle to the slanted front upper teeth and inclined at a different but yet proper angle to the more nearly vertical side upper teeth, and Without requiring a .maintaining the vX-ray tube at the proper dista-nce from the teeth. The hinge joint 40, 4l at the outer end of the auxiliary arm enables the lamp to be adjusted to the proper inclination to the horizontal, and the hinge joint 42, 43 enables the lamp to be given an askew position for special conditions. By calling into play the proper ones of these various joints and properly seating the patient, it is possible not only to correctly producean exposure of any tooth but to also by a simple turning movement, traverse either entire jaw and successively expose each tooth therein.

That portion of the goose neck -arm 38 which lies substantially horizontal and which crosses the aXis of the sleeve 29, and which ismarked A, in Fig. 1, serves as a convenient hand grip for manipulation of the apparatus. By grasping the manipul'atn ing part A with one` hand and the. shank 48 or some other part of the X-ray tube With the other hand all necessary adjustments of the apparatus can be readily made. By holding the part A stationary the tube can be adjusted relative to arm 38, While by pushing or pulling in the proper direction on the part Athe main arm 22 can be raised or lowered and by twisting said manipulating part A the necessary adjustments around the axis of the sleeve 29`can be readily made.

Referring now to F ig. 2, 52 represents the high tension conductor from the transformer in the base 1 of the apparatus. This conductor includes a central metal rod 53 surrounded by thick layers of insulation 54. The upper end of said conductor is con .nected by a suitable elastic joint to a conductor 55 which runs to the X-ray tube. As shown, rod 53 isclosely hugged by a compression spring 56 Whose upper end abuts a contact 57 electrically connected'to theI Wire in the center of cable 55, which, of course, is heavily insulated. This cable runs through the cavity between the discs 14, thence through the tubular arm 22 to the insulated sleeve 26. The cables 52 and 55 are surrounded by insulation, for example, by gum rubber inclosed in a micanite tube 58. The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 permits the upper portion of the cable, marked 55, to move slightly up and down as the arm 22 is adjusted vertically to various positions.

On the outer end of the insulated tube 26 is a post 59 carrying a spring Wound pulley or Wheel y60 and a bracket 70 carrying an eye 71. On the Wheel 60 is coiled a line insulated Wire 72, one end of which is elec-- trically connected through the post 59 to the Wire center of cable 55. This fine ivire is led through the eye 71, thence through an eye in a post 73 having a suitable flexible resilient connection, such as a loose spring connection 74: to the goose7neck arm 38, and thence to the terminal 7 5`of the X-ray tube.

`It Will,`of course, be understoodv that the other high tension terminal of the X-ray tube is 'suitably grounded to a metallic portion of the frame, preferably at lthe outer end of the arm 38. This arrangement perfectly protects the patient against stray high tension discharges, because the form of the goose neck arm 38 is such that said arm is always interposed betweenthe patient and the high tension Wire 72, so that brush discharges from this Wire are grounded to the frame before they reach the patient. As the arm 38 is adjusted relative to thel arm 22, or

as the X-ray tube is adjusted relative to arm 38, the Wire 72 is Wound up upon or is paid out'from the pulley 60, and the post 73, because of its spring support 74C, bends to the right or left, so as to always keep the Wire 72 a suiiicient distance away from the metallic portion of the frame.

In this apparatus, the X-ray tube is usually a Coolidge tube or other vsimilar tube in Which the quantity of X-rays is regulated by varying the temperature of the cathode filament, said filament being a tungsten spiral or other suitable device through Which heating current at loW 4voltage is passed. 76 represents the connection for leading heating current to the cathode ila ment. The Wires' 77 for leading current thereto pass through a tube 78 in the column 2 and located outside ofy the micaniter tube 58, and which is preferably grounded to protect the loW tension current from static effects. From the tube 78 these Wires are led to` and through the tube 24 and thence through the goose neck arm 38, so that for the most part they are concealed but are eX- posed Where necessary ,because of the ilexibility of a joint.

The arrangement described is simple and highly `eflicient in that it enables the X-ray tube to be located and supported in any position at exactly the proper angle.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for use in dental radiography comprising a support, a main arm pivoted thereto on a horizontal axis and having a bearing portion at its outer end, the longitudinal axis ot which by tilting movement of said armv may be adjusted to various positions inclined to the vertical, a second armrotatable around the axis of said bearsupporting trame "carried by said arm, and yelectric connections therefor.

Q. Apparatus for use in ldental radiography "comprising a support, a main aarm pivotedthereto on a horizontal raxis and having a bearing portion at its 'outer end, the

i longitudinal axis of which Ttilting,Inovement off said arm may be Aadjusted to -various positions inclined to lthe vertical, `a second arm rotatable around'the axis of said bearing portion and having a -inanipu'lating portion crossing said axis, an XJray tube supporti-ng frame carried by said second arm, and electricconnections therefor including a high tension conductor on the vopposite side. of said arms -iironi the position oi the patient.

'3. Apparatus for use in 4dental radiography, comprising a Tfframe including a main Varm having a depend-ing 'bearing portion adjustable in a vertical plane to diiferent ylevels and with varyinginclinations of the bearing axis to Vthe "vertical, and 'an auxiliary arm swiveled -aroundvthe bearing yportion of the main arm and extending across 'the axis of said bearing and at its outer end provided with means for ysupporting an X-ray tube, the adjustmentoi` said 'bearing portion serving gto locate ythe X-ray tube with reference to either jaw, andthe s'wivleling motion "of Said auxiliary tarm "enablin-g the X-ray tube to 'be moved through 'a symmetrical `orbit labout the jaw.

4. Apparatus for use in dental radiog- |raphy, Vcomprising fa iramcfincluding a inain arm having a'depending 'bearing portion adjustable in a vertical Vplane to different levels and with varying inclination-s 4of tliebe'aring axis to the vertical,'andanauxil- 'iary arm swiveled around the bearing fportion of the main-arm and extending across -theaxis of'said bearing vand at it-souter end provided with means for 'supporting an AX-ray tube, the adjustment of said bearing .pdrtion serving to locate the 'Xlray `tube with reference to either jaw, f and `the swivelling'niotion of said 'auxiliary arm enabling the lX-ray tube to be moved "throughasymmetrical orbit kabout the jaw, the supporting means for said X-ray tube being 'constructed and arranged to 'enable Vsaid t'ube tobe adjustedon 'saidiauxiliary arm in a verticalplane to an'yfangular position relative to the long axis'oi a tooth.

5. Apparatus for use 'in dental 'radiography, comprising ya support, a lmain arm pivoted thereto ona horizontal'axis and Ahaving a bearing portion near its outzer"en`d, the longitudinal axis of whichA by tilting movementof saidarm may -be adjusted to a vertical `position or to various positions inlclined to thevertical, an auxiliarynrmrotatable 'around said axis on -s'aid bea-ring -portion/ and having a vmanipulating portion crossing said axispand an-X-,ray'tube supiportingfrane carried by said auxiliary farm.

'6. vApparatus y'for use in dental radiogvraphy, comprising a support, -a main arm longitudinal axis of :which by tiltirrganovement of "said arm may 'be adjustedto a vertical position or -to various ypositions in- `clined to the vertical, -fauxiliary arm rotatable around said xaxis onsa'id. Ibearing portion and lraving a manipulating portion crossing said axis, and an X-i'ay tube supporting frame'cafrried by 'said auxiliary arm `and mdunted thereon vto have swinging linmfement in a vertical plane.

7. Aapparatus for use `in dental radiography, `comprising 4a relatively heavy :base adapted to restupon the 'floor iand pro'- vided with a column, a mai-n arm 'pivoted to the -upper end yoi said column. to fswing in ia *vertical `'plane and 'having a bearing portion l'near .its outer lend, the longituzdina'l axis of which by y'tilting movement of said arm may be adjusted ito fa vertical position or 'to various fpositions l.inclined to ithe vertical, an auxiliary arm rotatable around said axis on said bearing portion Vand having a manipulating portion cross- 'ing said axis, and an X-ray tube carried by said auxiliary arm.

8. Apparatus'of'the class described, Lcomiprising- -a column, a main arm extending -`outwardly "therefrom and lpivo'ted there- -to to swing in a vertical zplane, the outer endo'i said main arm having a depending bearing portion whose axis may be inclined to the zvertical by swinging `movement oi said 'main arm on said column, a sleeve swiveled upon saidbearing portion, an auxiliary arm havinga hinge connection on va horizontal vaxis with `said sleeve lbetween `the opposite ends oilsaid Ymain arm, said vauxiliary arm extending downwardly and outwardly vand `cro's'sing the axis of said bearing, and meansat theouter endfof said auxiliary 'farm Afor supporting an X- ra-y tube.

-9. Apparatus Aof Athe class described, -comp'rising acolumn, a main arm extending outwardly therefrom Aand pivoted thereto to Vswing "infa vertical plane, the outer end oi said main'arm havinga depending bearing portion Whose axis may be inclined'to the vertical Yb-y swinging movement `of lsaid main'armon saidcolumn, a sleeve siviveled upon `said bearing portion, an Iauxiliary arm having l'a hinge connection on a horizontal axis with said sleeve 'between the opposite ends ofsaid'main arm, said auxiliary arm extending downwardly and outwardly and crossing the axis of said bear` ing, and Ameans \at the -out'er end of said a-uxiliary yarm for supporting an X-"ray tube Iand fior adjusting the [same `to any angular :position relative yto said axis.

10. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a column, a main arm extending outwardly therefrom and pivoted thereto to swing in a vertical plane, the outer end of said main arm having a depending bearing portion whose axis may be inclined to the vertical by swinging movement of said main arm on said column, an auxiliary arm swiveled to the bearing portion of said main arm and extending downwardly and outwardly from said column, means for supporting an X-ray tube upon the outer end of said auxiliary arm, said main and auxiliary arms forming a ground return for the high tension circuit to said X-ray tube, and said main arm forming a conduit for the high tension lead to said X-ray tube, and means for supporting a lead wire for said X-ray tube on the far side of said auxiliary arm from said column.

11. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a column, a main arm extending outwardly therefrom and pivoted thereto to swing in a vertical plane, the outer end of said main arm having a depending bearing portion whose axis may be inclined to the vertical by swinging movement of said main arm on said column, an auxiliary arm swiveled to the bearing portion of said main arm and extending downwardly and outwardly from said column, means for supporting an X-ray' tube upon the outer end of said auxiliary arm, said main and auxiliary arms forming a ground return for the high tension circuit to said X-ray tube, and said main arm forming a conduit for the high tension lead to said auxiliary tube, and means for supporting a lead Wire for said X-ray tube on the far side of said auxiliary arm Jfrom said colmun and spaced from said auxiliary arm.

12. Apparatus for use in dental radiography, comprising a frame including a main arm having a depending bearing portion located near its one end and adjustable in a vertical plane to different levels and with varying inclinations of the bearing axis to the vertical, and an auxiliary arm swive-led around the bearing portion of the main arm and provided at its outer end with means for supporting an X-ray tube, an electric conductor for said X-ray tube having a portion spaced from said frame, and means located on said main arm and below said bearing for automaticallytaking up slack in said conductor as the X-ray tube is adjusted to its various positions.

In testimony whereof I aix my sig-- nature.

WILLIAM C. DEE. 

